Iloilo, Bacolod and Its Neighboring Cities: Six Food Destinations to go to

Iloilo City and Bacolod City are one of the most visited places in Western Visayas. They are known for its beautiful churches, preserved architectures, artifacts of the past, and its rich culture, art and history.

If you’re traveling in Western Visayas, travel not only by going to places but immerse into the culture of the Ilonggos through the palate.

Iloilo, Bacolod and its neighboring cities are not only famous for their beautiful places but also to the food they offer. Local and foreign tourists alike travel to have a taste of Western Visayas’ delicacies. From the delicious pastries of Bacolod down to the savory broth of Iloilo’s batchoy, trying out famous food will definitely give you the full experience of being in the Ilonggo region.

Iloilo City

From their famed biscocho down to their pinasugbo, Iloilo City is one of the best places for food destinations.

The highly urbanized city is not only famous for its old architectures and churches but it is home to the best seafood dishes and local Filipino delicacies.

Batchoy or ‘Ba-chui’ is a borrowed Chinese word meaning ‘pieces of meat’. Batchoy is a special noodle soup loved by many Filipinos and foreigners. The noodle which is called miki is a thick noodle made from fresh eggs.

Netong’s Original Special La Paz Batchoy is known as one of the most authentic batchoy in the history of the Philippines. It has retained its flavors and authenticity over the years.

Molo Food Park

Molo Food Park is a new food scene in Iloilo City. It is a hip urban food park in the district of Molo.

It offers a variety of cuisine like Mexican, Chinese, Spanish and more. Molo Food Park is a hip place for friends to chill, to drink and to experience the flavor of Iloilo’s new generation of food experts.

You can order nachos and pair it with some drinks. If you want some sizzling goodness, you can order some sisig to satisfy your taste buds’ craving. If you’re craving for some hot chicken wings or just some Spanish delight, you’re welcome to the Food Park.

Buto’t Balat Native Dishes and Seafood

Buto’t Balat Native Dishes and Seafood is an al fresco dining near Plazuela de Iloilo. It is a homey restaurant built out of woods that reminds you of a traditional Filipino restaurant but with a twist of modernization.

They offer gastronomic experience with their Filipino cuisine that reminds balikbayan of some of the most precious childhood memories in the kitchen.

Buto’t Balat’s logo is that of a fishbone because Iloilo serves one of the freshest and delicious seafood dishes in the Philippines. Buto’t Balat means ‘skin and bones’ as its food is scrumptious up to the bones.

When in Buto’t Balat restaurant, try out Iloilo’s famous baked scallops and some of their best seafood cuisines.

Silay City

Silay City is known as the ‘Paris of Negros’ because of its well-preserved historical landmarks, arts, and culture. It is the second museum city in the Philippines next to Vigan. It is home to 31 heritage houses and coined as one of the top destinations you need to visit when in the country.

It is the ‘seat of arts, culture, and eco-tourism’ in the country. Indeed, Silay City does not fail to amaze with historical facts of the Philippines. It also hands down decades of delicious goodness.

El Ideal Bakery

El Ideal Bakery is one of the best bakeries you’ll ever go to anywhere in the Philippines. Why? What’s so special about El Ideal Bakery?

El Ideal Bakery has stood and served good food since the 1920’s. Their baked pastries and bread come from heritage recipes back from the days. Their food is extraordinary because you are literally tasting and reliving Philippine history through the palate.

It is both an honor and a privilege to be in El Ideal Bakery as the place itself is tagged as a National Heritage Site.

If you’re going to visit El Ideal, try out their Guapple pie and their delicious empanada. The texture and taste of their empanada’s bread are that of a croissant. It will be the best empanada that will grace your mouth.

Bacolod City

Bacolod City is famously known as the ‘City of Smiles’ of the Philippines because you’ll definitely enjoy good company and leisurely travel. Also, it is a haven for the sweet tooth.

Bacolod City is one of the sugar-rich cities in the Philippines and is the home of one of the best restaurants, pastry shops and cafes in the Ilonggo region. Food is their major attraction.

Calea Pastries & Coffee

Calea Pastries and Coffee is a food destination to every traveler when in Bacolod City. It is a pilgrimage for the sweet tooth and foodies. It is one of the places that makes you believe that heaven is a place on earth.

Calea Pastries and Coffee is one of the cafes in the Philippines that makes decision making a hard task. The place offers twenty or more cakes to choose from. If you’re a big fan of cheesecake then Calea Pastries and Coffee is right for you.

Their cheesecakes make you hear angels sing once the spoonful cake touches the tip of your tongue. Their cheesecake is of the right consistency, sweetness, and texture.

They also offer the best chocolate muffins and cakes with fruit in the entire Bacolod. Their cake is best paired with their delicious coffee, iced or hot.

Merci Napoleones is one of the best pasalubong your hand needs to get when in Bacolod City. It is one of the best pastries Bacolod is famously known with.

Napoleones is a tasty layered pastry puff filled with oozing custard cream glazed with confectioner sugar. The thin pastry layers have a texture and a similar taste that of a croissant. It is both crispy and soft at the same time. It comes in small handful square sizes.

Napoleones is similar to the French’s mille-feuille, meaning ‘a thousand leaves’, as it has the same feature. They are both layered pastry puffs. For mille-feuille, it is filled with either whipped cream or jam. Mille-feuille originated in Naples, Italy to which Napoleones’ name sprang from.

Heighten the senses of your taste through food explorations in the Ilonggo region. Remember that food is also a destination. Nothing beats the memory of the palate. So, while you’re traveling in the said places, try out this new food. It’s worth the experience!

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JG Bolivar is the creator of the Voyaging Accountant. She is a Davao-based blogger that has a huge passion for cheesecake, strawberry milk shake, and anything that has mint. She's a huge food enthusiast and an adventure seeker.

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